THE REVOLUTION OF 1908-9
tion. When told that the city expected every-
thing to be over in forty-eight hours, he shook
his head and replied: ** We have something
to do, and this time we are going to do it
thoroughly. Wait rather until the end of the
week and then you may see/' Subsequent
developments lent peculiar significance to the
promise. We waited—and we saw.
San Stefano now assumed political importance,
for many deputies repaired there and Parliament
sat at the Yacht Club, at first under the presi-
dency of Ebuzzia Tewfik, deputy for Anatolia and
* director of the new paper the Courrier d! Orient,
the first issue of which, in a single sheet only,
appeared on the 21st. Next day, Ahmed Riza,
who had wisely taken flight on the downfall of
the Hilmi Cabinet, resumed the duties of Presi-
dent of the Chamber and was accorded a warm
reception, though nothing like the ovation given
to Enver, who, less interested in politics, went
straight to headquarters and is credited with
having directed the final operations against
Taxim and Tashkishleh. The San Stefano Par-
liament deliberated in secret, though the adoption
of a proposal to depose Abd-ul-Hamid leaked out,
not, however, to be taken seriously in the city.
In fact, all that week, each hour brought fresh
rumour and contradiction, and the authorities
135